SK5648Y1 - Method for pretreating polymer materials and array for making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

It is described a method and an array for cleaning, pretreating and/or compounding polymer materials, wherein the polymer materials to be treated are heated to a temperature below the melting temperature of the polymer material in at least one receptacle, cutter-compacter or reactor (1) while being continually mixed or agitated and optionally comminuted, while continually preserving the pourability or lumpiness, and are thereby at the same time crystallized, dried and/or cleaned or detoxified. Further, the hot polymer materials are subsequently cooled, wherein the thermal energy given off or released during cooling is reintroduced or returned to the process at another, particularly upstream, point.

Description

SK 5648 Υ1

Technical field

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 as well as to an arrangement for carrying out the method according to claim 8.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

PCR (Post Consumer Recycled) Flakes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), obtained from washed PET bottles or PET deep drawn parts, are an increasingly important source of raw materials and commercial goods for the production of PET products. PET flakes are used in larger quantities to produce PET flat film and PET bottles. PET flat film is most often processed into deep drawn products. In the manufacture of such products, mixtures of novelty and washed PCR-PET flakes as well as 100% flakes can be used. Since the aim is to utilize end products such as PET bottles, PET deep drawn parts, also for use in food, there are various ways to make flakes or melt suitable for use in food. This was achieved, for example, by Vacurema® devices.

Sharpened legislation and increased customer quality requirements have made it impossible or difficult to use non-food flakes for the production of parts suitable for use with and in the interlayer (A-B-A). Thus, it is no longer sufficient, for example, for deep-drawn parts to apply an outer layer of novel food-friendly goods which serves as a barrier to a non-food-grade layer, but appropriate migration analyzes must be carried out to ensure this also in production.

At the same time, there are many manufacturing systems, especially flat film devices and injection molding devices, which do not enter the necessary purification steps for PCR flakes. However, there are systems that can cope with this situation.

The economic situation further orders to use PCR flakes. However, it is not always economically justified to place the aforementioned cleaning systems on each individual extrusion system or injection system. For example, these devices may be too small, or their flexibility too low, or insufficient quality management is possible. Therefore, there are two other applications:

Option 1: Use as a central cleaning system for one or more extrusion systems, injection systems, etc., to produce appropriate flakes from PCR flakes. These flakes can be interim stored or directly distributed simultaneously between several devices.

Option 2: Integration of the purification system into the PCR flake washer as an additional purification step to produce suitable PCR flake for food. These PCR flakes can then be sold directly.

In principle, the following methods can be used for all types of polyesters, such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PTT (polytrimethylene terephthalate), PEN (polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate), for the corresponding modified PET types, respectively. copolyesters, as well as various aromatic polyesters of liquid crystals. In addition to the above materials, the polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC) and biogenic origin materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) are also workable.

At present, however, in addition to PET packaging, only more PC bottles are of economic importance (milk bottles in the US and Australia). However, the amount of PLA packaging is increasing steadily and it is predictable that in the future there will be references worthy of streams of circulation with this material. In this case, these materials can also be treated by this purification method. In principle, the temperatures and residence times must be adapted to the polymer.

Another currently existing material stream that exists for use in food packaging is the field of polyolefins and polystyrols, and in particular HD-PE, PP and PS. These materials are used to make hollow bodies or deep-drawn parts that pack food such as milk, yoghurt, etc. Another case of use are bags of LD-PE (partially filled with fillers) into which, for example, milk is packed. These materials are often recycled and the aim is to bring these materials back to food. Here again, as already described above, the containers must be washed and any migrants must then be removed. The cleaning system as described above can be integrated as an additional cleaning system into a conventional washing device. PP, PS deep-drawn products such as yoghurt crucibles and HD-PE bottles (milk bottles in the US, GB, Australia) and more and more PP-bottles are currently remarkable material streams.

In principle, it is possible to arrange two or more process vessels in series or two or more process vessels in parallel operation.

Since there is no direct bond between the cleaning system and the extrusion systems, two process runs are possible. With these systems, continuous operation or batch operation can be performed. This description is made, for example, on the basis of PET flakes, but its meaning applies to all other materials with altered temperatures and run times, respectively. endurance.

SK 5648 Υ1

Option 1: continuous operation

In continuous operation, the PCR flakes are filled using an interlocking system (shunting systems, tumor dispensers, etc.) into an evacuated or inert gas purged vessel. The material is slowly heated by the applied mechanical energy, crystallized out of the dried product and freed from poisons. The energy input is controlled by the number of tool revolutions. The temperature sensors placed on the vessel are used as feedback and measure the temperature reached. The material is continuously discharged from the container, providing a transfer path that, when operated under vacuum, ensures that the vacuum remains in the container. The PCR flakes progress slowly from top to bottom through the vessel and are heated and cleared of poisons. If necessary, for example in the case of polyesters, the viscosity can be increased. If an inert gas is used, it is economically meaningful to also use a sluice system to keep the loss of inert gas as low as possible. It is economically meaningful to exaggerate the gas in the circuit and recondition it for use in the vessel. The inert gas stream can be introduced as a transverse stream in each plane of the tool if several superimposed tools are provided, or if a bottom-up energy equalization is required, upstream of the material stream.

By tempering the tools, for example by heated mixing tools, the material temperature can be additionally influenced, while the tempering of the tools which can run in different planes, at least in one plane, can be done separately for each plane. For this purpose, a tempering medium is supplied via the drive shaft. The tool planes can be flown in series, with the lowest plane flowing first. The most common thing is to achieve temperature equalization between planes, and in most applications, the lowest plane of the tool is easily cooled. The heated medium is brought to the upper planes of the tools and transfers the heat to the cooler material there. In each plane, the current is applied to the tools in parallel in order to maintain the same temperature conditions in the plane. In any case, it is necessary to carry out the shaft outwards and the corresponding pumps and reservoirs and, if necessary, to cool them back with air or water or other media.

In all ways of influencing, the torque of the drive or, more importantly, the temperature distribution in the material is used as a control variable for possible control or manual process control.

The reactor is operated under vacuum and the volume to be aspirated is determined essentially by the amount of material introduced by the internal and external moisture and by the toxic substances to be removed by cleaning.

In principle, a vacuum with a pressure of less than 100 mbar, in particular less than 25 mbar, preferably less than 10 mbar, is to be achieved for the poison removal process. In this case, the temperature of the material in the lower region should be above 130 ° C, in particular above 150 ° C, preferably above 180 ° C. The mean residence time is more than 15 minutes, in particular more than 30 minutes, in particular more than 40 minutes, preferably more than 60 minutes.

In addition, if an increase in viscosity is to be achieved, pressures of less than 10 mbar, in particular less than 5 mbar, preferably less than 1-2 mbar, and temperatures of more than 190 ° C, in particular more than 200 ° C, preferably more than 220 ° C, the mean residence time in the vessel being more than 40 minutes, in particular more than 60 minutes, in particular more than 80 minutes, in particular more than 100 minutes.

The suction rate for vacuum generation at PCR flake inlet humidities of <1% should be between about 2 m ³ / kg and 8 m ³ / kg of material at a pressure of about 3 mbar.

If an inert gas is used, the cost of the gas flow in the circuit is reduced, the gas is pre-dried to increase the quality (viscosity) of the flakes produced, and heating the gas prevents the flakes from cooling. The introduction of energy to heat the flakes is not carried out with an inert gas, as is often the case in other methods. As a result, the amount of inert gas is greatly reduced and is used only to remove the released moisture or gas. toxic substances. However, this amount will essentially be determined by the moisture introduced. This area is approximately between 0.002 m ³ / kg / h and 0.1 m ³ / kg / h. The dew point of the gas should be in the range between -10 ° C and -60 ° C, preferably below -30 ° C.

Option 2: batch operation

In this mode of operation, a defined amount of pre-washed, dried, usually < 1% residual moisture containing PCR flakes is introduced into a vessel as described above with circulating tools. Under vacuum or in a stream of inert gas, the material, in particular by introducing mechanical energy, is heated, crystallized and purified for use in foodstuffs. It is now possible to adapt the process parameters accordingly to the various parameters of the input material, such as the input moisture, the desired purification, as well as the desired material parameters of the starting material, such as increasing the cut-off viscosity of the PCR flakes.

It is also possible to adjust the dwell time, temperature and vacuum respectively in a wide range. inert gas flow.

In any case, however, the following steps in the process must be followed:

1. Filling the material

2. heating, drying and crystallizing the material

3. residence time, resp. poison removal time, respectively. time of viscosity increase

Option 4: Cooling in the vessel

SK 5648 Υ1

5. material outlet.

A good example of the cleaning process:

Pre-washed PCR flakes with an input humidity <0.7% at a material temperature of about 20 ° C are used as starting material. The material amount of the dose is over about t = 5 -10 min. charge into the reaction vessel under atmosphere. Vacuum is then applied or, in particular, a dry or heated inert gas stream is supplied. By means of these tools, energy is quickly supplied to the material. The energy input is controlled by changing the rotational speed of the tools as well as, if necessary, by means of adjustable tools. In this heating process to about 180 ° C, the material is dried and crystallized. Vacuum, respectively. the inert gas stream will remove the released moisture and toxic substances away. When more than 180 ° C is reached, a residence time follows to achieve the suitability of the food material. The material temperature is maintained at T > 180 ° C. This is mainly achieved by changing the number of revolutions.

In principle, process parameters may be varied in this process. For example, a lower vacuum may be permitted by increasing the residence time at a certain temperature, or a higher treatment temperature may result in a shorter residence time for cleaning.

In the case of vacuum cleaning to achieve PCR flakes for use with food, the following parameters should preferably be observed:

dwell pressure: <100 mbar, preferably <50 mbar, preferably <10 mbar;

residence time: > 5 minutes, preferably > 10 minutes, preferably 20 minutes, preferably 30 minutes;

- dwell temperature:> 130 ° C, better> 150 C, better> 180 ° C, better> 190 ° C.

When purging with inert gas, the volume of the container should be changed at least 2 to 3 times per hour, preferably 4 to 5 times per hour, preferably 10 times per hour. Temperatures respectively. the residence time will remain essentially the same. Only replace the vacuum with an inert gas, resp. the reduced pressure of the inert gas relative to the atmosphere can be maintained.

Now that it is desirable to increase the cut-off viscosity in addition to the purification process, this can be achieved by increasing the process temperature, increasing the process time, respectively. reducing the vacuum.

A temperature greater than 180 ° C, preferably> 200 ° C, preferably> 220 ° C should be achieved. The vacuum should be less than 50 mbar, preferably less than 10 mbar, preferably less than 1 mbar, preferably less than 0.5 mbar, preferably less than 0.1 mbar. The residence time will be at least 40 minutes, preferably 60 minutes, more preferably 90 minutes, preferably 120 minutes, with up time being more economic than technical.

Here, too, dry inert gas (e.g. dew point> -40 ° C) can be used as a drainage medium for the released water or ethylene glycol.

Another example of use when processing material with increased humidity:

The PCR flakes have a higher external humidity, for example 2-3%. The internal humidity is about 2000-3000 ppm. In the heating process, only a slight vacuum is applied to the vessel in order to efficiently transport the generated amount of water vapor from the vessel. Further, a defined amount of air or inert gas in the range of about 1-2 m ³ / h, preferably 3-5 m ³ / h, more preferably 10 m ³ / h, may be introduced so that the moisture can be sucked off (flushing). Instead of a vacuum, a strong suction blower with an adequate air supply can also be used at this stage. The aim is to remove the evaporating external amount of moisture from the container as quickly as possible.

Only when the moisture in the material is greatly reduced will an increased vacuum be applied to minimize the internal humidity of the PCR flakes. Possible media supply is reduced to 0 m ³ / h. This can be recognized either at the temperature of the material in the vessel (which will remain close to 100 ° C if significant amounts of moisture evaporate), or moisture can also be measured in the exhaust stream and increase the vacuum below a certain threshold. This ensures that the vacuum pump system always runs in the most efficient suction / discharge pump. performance area. It is also possible to measure the motor currents of the vacuum pumps and to control the rotational speed of these pumps, respectively. upstream pumps and correspondingly increase the suction volume that goes hand in hand with decreasing humidity with increasing the vacuum in the reactor.

Such a procedure will naturally lead to an increase in batch processing time. However, we have an effective means of counteracting the changing input moisture of the material in our hands, especially when the corresponding feedback signals on the outflow or vacuum pump currents are processed in the control or discharge pump. regulatory circuits. If such a system is incorporated into a washing device, under certain circumstances, the more expensive final drying may be omitted or correspondingly minimized.

After reaching the required temperature, resp. the required vacuum begins with the corresponding residence time, which is necessary to remove the poisons, respectively. to increase the viscosity. During dwelling, toxic gases can be detected by analysis of the off-gases and various procedures can be implemented. Either the batch processing is interrupted and the material is used for use in the non-food field, or the batch processing time is extended until no more detection is made.

Accompanying devices, respectively. measures for continuous mode or batch mode:

The PCR flakes are purified, respectively. viscosity increases do not necessarily lead to further processing immediately. For this reason, the flakes are stored in the following facilities, such as silos, large

SK 5648 Υ1 bags, etc. At the end of the cleaning cycle, the flakes are hot. If these flakes are not brought directly to processing by another thermal process in which the internal energy of the flakes can be utilized, for example by extrusion, then the flakes must be cooled before they can be stored. In this process, the outgoing heat is removed from the coolant and would be lost unused.

The object of the invention is thus to provide a method and an arrangement by which polymeric materials can be processed efficiently and economically and, in particular, are free of toxic substances.

The essence of the technical solution

This object is solved for said method by the features of claim 1 and for said arrangement by the features of claim 8.

The method according to the present invention thus relates to a method of purification, pretreatment or treatment. treatment of polymeric materials, in particular plastic waste in the form of flakes, wherein the polymeric materials to be treated are in at least one container, a compaction machine or a compaction machine. reactor, in particular under a vacuum or an inert gas, with stirring, respectively. movement and eventually crushing (grinding), while constantly maintaining the flowability, respectively. they are heated to a temperature below the melting point, preferably above the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material, and at the same time, in particular in one step, crystallize, dry and / or purify, respectively. get rid of poisonous substances.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the hot polymeric materials are subsequently cooled, in particular to room temperature. the released thermal energy is reintroduced at another location, in particular at an earlier (according to a later formulation, this is supposed to be locally superior), respectively. returns to the process. In this way, the material can be processed efficiently, with energy savings and economically.

Further advantageous embodiments of the process are found in the dependent claims: According to one advantageous development, it is preferable that the polymeric materials are subjected to prior washing, drying and / or pre-crystallization prior to their treatment in the reactor. This increases the quality of the final product. Since these steps also need energy, the recovered energy can also be used for these steps. It is preferred to use the energy obtained from the cooling medium elsewhere, for example, to preheat the PCR flakes. This energy can now be used differently depending on the application. The recovered energy represents at least 20% of the energy content in the flakes, preferably 40%, preferably 50-60%. Therefore, the economy of such a system can be significantly increased.

In this connection, it is advantageous if the polymer materials are transferred to the polymer materials during cooling. the released thermal energy is used for direct or indirect resp. immediately or indirectly heating the polymeric materials, especially untreated, directly in the reactor, preferably during washing, drying and / or crystallization.

Depending on the final quality requirements, different cooling processes follow. In principle, PET is sensitive to the effects of oxygen and moisture, the more the hotter the polymer is. Because the flakes have a large surface area to volume, they are sensitive to oxygen yellowing and / or viscosity reduction by ambient air humidity when hot. Therefore, this condition should be taken into account during cooling and on further transport. The hotter the flakes and the higher the quality requirements that are imposed on the flakes, the greater the cost of this step of the process.

Depending on the application, respectively. depending on the final quality to be achieved, the following options shall be chosen:

High viscosity, high color fidelity:

In this case, the discharge, respectively. cooling is performed by dry inert gas. If the temperature of the flakes falls below about 130 ° C, preferably 110 ° C, more preferably 100 ° C, no appreciable adverse effect on the material should be expected and can be switched to normal air as a cooling, storage and transport means. In any case, the inert gas will be circulated in the circuit and the accumulated energy will be recovered. High viscosity, color is not critical:

In this case, the dried air may be sufficient as a cooling medium. The air should be dried with a dew point of -10 ° C, preferably -20 ° C, preferably -40 ° C.

The dew point as a measure of air humidity is derived, not the actual existing temperature and as such is normally lower than or equal to the actual air temperature. If both are the same size, the air is saturated with water vapor. Dew point is a measure of humidity because it depends on the water vapor content in the air. If the air saturated with water vapor is cooled below the dew point, condensation occurs, which is manifested by condensation, fog, dew, resp. generally collisions. The greater the difference between temperature and dew point, the drier the air.

SK 5648 Υ1

Pure poison removal (no special requirements for color and viscosity):

In this case, cooling with dehydrated air or normal air may be sufficient. When dehumidifying the air, the dew point should be about 10 ° C, preferably 5 ° C, even more preferably 0 ° C.

This cooling can also take place in the reactor in the case of a batch process. Most often, this procedure will not be cost-effective, as expensive tools will be blocked by processes that can also be accomplished by more convenient devices.

It can be economically used to cool a series-connected vessel whose mixing tools and / or the jacket are heavily cooled and which is under vacuum. This ensures that oxidative or moisture damage is minimized. In the case of a continuous process, the material must be supplied via a sluice system. In the case of a batch process, this method of delivery can be omitted. At the end of the batch process, the entire material is transported under vacuum to a separate cooling vessel by means of an appropriately sized discharge screw conveyor. The cooling vessel is then sealed and separated from the processing vessel (vacuum).

Instead of vacuum, the vessel may also be filled with an inert gas. This gas is ideally dried and may be, for example, N ₂ . In this case, the heat transfer is improved in comparison with the vacuum of the medium.

The cooling vessel preferably has a very slowly circulating stirrer, which can be designed to be chilled. The walls are also optionally cooled and the flake energy is transferred to the cooled part by gentle mixing. Gaseous or liquid media can be used as cooling.

If the cooling of the polymer materials is carried out under vacuum, it is preferred that the cooling is effected by direct contact of the polymer materials with the reactor wall, cooling vessel and / or mixing and mixing device.

The method according to the present invention can be conducted continuously or not (dis) continuously, respectively, as mentioned above. as a batch process.

The arrangement according to this technical solution for cleaning, pretreatment, resp. treatment of polymeric materials, especially plastic waste in the form of flakes, resp. for carrying out the method according to the present invention, it comprises at least one, for applying a vacuum and / or for mixing or mixing, respectively. purging with an inert gas by a suitable container known in the art as such, a cutting compaction machine, or a compaction machine; a reactor with such a known mixing and mixing device, and optionally with a crushing device for polymeric materials. The mixing and mixing device moves the material respectively. mix, rotate, stir, heat, or stir. eventually crushes and keeps flowing, respectively. materiality.

The further arrangement optionally comprises at least one downstream washing device, a drying device, a pre-crystallization device and / or a storage device for polymeric materials, means for heating the polymeric materials in the reactor, particularly to a temperature below the melting point, preferably above the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material; means, respectively. at least one device for cooling the hot polymeric materials, as well as means for receiving and transferring the thermal energy transferred to or from the heat source; released during their cooling to another, in particular upstream, or to a device which is in communication with it, directly or indirectly, respectively. immediately or indirectly heating the polymer materials, in particular in a washing apparatus, a drying apparatus, a precrystallization apparatus, a storage apparatus and / or in the reactor itself. With such an arrangement, the method can be conducted efficiently and with energy savings.

It is preferred that the compositions and the compositions of the present invention be used. devices for cooling the hot polymeric materials are downstream of the reactor, and that a preferably, downstream, preferably evacuable, cooling vessel is provided downstream of the reactor, and is connected in particular via a non-compressing discharge screw conveyor to the reactor.

The reactor can advantageously be used as a cleaning system in a scrubber. When using a scrubber, an additional scrubber is used after the flakes have dried. After performing a cold wash and / or washing hot and / or washing with the corresponding active, respectively. with the cleaning agents, the PCR flakes are brought to mechanical and / or thermal drying. The energy obtained from the cooling can now be used to heat the hot washing water or to generate heated air for the thermal drying of the PCR flakes or, as in the next, the energy is used to heat the flakes.

EXAMPLES

In FIG. is shown such a system, respectively. an arrangement in which the reactor 1 and the reactor 1, respectively; a multipurpose reactor integrated into the overall plant and the thermal energy is advantageously recycled. According to the block diagram, the figure includes the overall arrangement of the washing device 20 in which the flakes 2 are subjected to a basic washing. Such washing devices are known in the art. Subsequently, the flakes 2 are discharged from a scrubber with a moisture content of about 3000 to 10,000 ppm into a pre-crystallization apparatus or heating force. There they are subjected to drying and optionally pre-crystallization at elevated temperature. The temperature increase is carried out, for example, with warm air at a temperature of from 160 to 170 ° C. Po6

The lymphoma materials will remain in this heating force for about 1 hour to 4 hours. Subsequently, the flakes 2 are fed to the reactor and / or the reactor via a suction conveying system 6. multipurpose reactor i. This is a conventional cutting compaction machine as known in the art. In the cutting compaction machine there is arranged a rotatably mounted mixing and mixing device 4, which mixes the polymeric materials in at least two planes and keeps them lumpy. The temperature in reactor 1 is adjusted and maintained at about 190 to 210 ° C. The polymeric materials remain in the reactor for a mean residence time of about 1-2 hours. Working-up is carried out under vacuum. It is essential that the flakes never lose their flowability and that the material in the container softens as much as possible, but never melts. The addition of a vacuum or even an inert gas will result in the desirable removal of migrants and the removal of toxic substances. Subsequently, the material is discharged in batches of about 15 to 20 kg through the sluice systems from the reactor 1. The material has a temperature of about 190 ° C. The flakes are then introduced into the cooling force 10 and 10, respectively. of the cooling vessel and remain there for a mean residence time of about 30 minutes - 1 hour. They are cooled to about 20 to 50 ° C. This cooling is carried out in accordance with this embodiment with cold, dried air, which is blown into the cooling force 10 by means of a blower and mixes the flakes. According to a preferred embodiment, the slowly circulating mixing tools 4 can also be formed. Now the cold flakes reach the dusting device 5 and are subsequently sorted and packaged. They wrap up at station 8 with big bags. The air passing through the flakes has taken over their thermal energy and now has a temperature of about 170 ° C. This energy can now be used according to this technical solution to bring heat to those places of the process or arrangement where it is needed. Previously, it is advantageous to get rid of both the dust and the process air. The target is recycled flakes with 0.5% dust.

According to this embodiment, warm air is introduced into the heating force 21 and serves there to preheat the flakes before they are introduced into the reactor 1. However, the warm air can also be used to heat the washing water in the scrubber 20 or to heat the reactor T

According to a further preferred embodiment, when used as a stand-alone device, the warm air energy can also be used as follows. In this case, PCR flakes are supplied. Energy can therefore only be used to heat the flakes. Since the PCR flakes have at least a temperature of 150-160 ° C before cooling, the energy can be used directly, i. j. without heat pump, compression, etc. For this purpose, an insulated vessel of sufficient size is arranged upstream of the treatment reactor 1. There, the flakes are now heated by means of warm air, dried warm air and / or warm inert gases. It is also possible to use a container through which the casing flows, respectively. it blows out the warm medium. The mixing elements, which can also be heated, mix the material to achieve sufficient heat transfer. In order to specifically remove any released moisture (non-negligible evaporation occurs from about 60 ° C), the vessel may be under a slight vacuum, or the suction blower 7 may provide a slight vacuum. Additionally, false air, preferably warm and / or dry or dehydrated air, may be added in small amounts (see above).

The processing of PET in the melt produces acetaldehyde as a decomposition product. However, this volatile substance is undesirable due to its taste-altering effect. When the PCR flake is treated as described above, the acetaldehyde content is reduced to well below 1 ppm. According to the process parameters, even the limit of proof is exceeded when the input value is <100 ppm and process parameters T> 160 ° C, preferably 180 ° C, at> 10 minutes, better 20 minutes, and p <10 mbar, better <5 mbar .

PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

Claims (10)

1. Method of cleaning, pretreatment, resp. treatment of polymeric materials, in particular plastic waste in the form of flakes, wherein the polymeric materials to be treated are in at least one container, a compaction machine or a compaction machine. Reactor (1), in particular under vacuum or inert gas, with stirring, respectively. movement and eventually crushing, while constantly maintaining the flowability, respectively. they are heated to a temperature below the melting point, preferably above the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material, and at the same time, in particular in one step, they crystallize, dry and / or are cleaned, respectively. They are free of poisonous substances, characterized in that the hot polymeric materials are subsequently cooled, in particular to room temperature. the released thermal energy is reintroduced at a different, in particular higher, location. returns to the process. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymeric materials are subjected to prior washing, drying and / or pre-crystallization prior to their treatment in the reactor (1). Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when the polymeric materials are cooled, respectively. the released thermal energy is used for direct or indirect resp. immediately or indirectly heating, in particular, unprocessed polymer materials directly in the reactor (1) or before introducing the polymer materials into the reactor (1), preferably during washing, drying and / or crystallization. SK 5648 Υ1 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cooling of the polymer materials is carried out directly in the reactor (1) and / or in a separate cooling force (10) connected downstream of the reactor (1), in particular with slow stirring. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cooling of the polymeric materials is carried out with dry inert gas, dry air with a dew point below -10 ° C, preferably -20 ° C, especially -40 ° C, or normal temperature. air with a dew point below 10 ° C, preferably 5 ° C, especially 0 ° C. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cooling of the polymeric materials, in particular under vacuum, is effected by direct contact of the polymeric materials with the reactor wall (1), the cooling silo (10) and / or the mixing and mixing device (1). 4,4 '). Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the method is carried out continuously or discontinuously, respectively. as a batch process. 8. Arrange for cleaning, pre-treatment, respectively. treatment of polymeric materials, especially plastic waste in the form of flakes, resp. for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises - at least one container, a cutting compaction machine, respectively. a reactor (1) suitable for introducing a vacuum and / or for mixing or stirring; purging with inert gas, with a mixing and mixing device (4) and optionally with a crushing device for polymeric materials, - optionally at least one reactor (1) having a washing device (20) upstream, a drying silo (21), optionally a pre-crystallization device and / or a storage device for polymeric materials, - means for heating the polymeric materials in the reactor (1), in particular to a temperature below the melting point, preferably above the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material, - means, resp. at least one device for cooling hot polymeric materials, - as well as the means for receiving and transferring the thermal energy transmitted or recovered. released to the cooling process, to another, in particular upstream, or other, operatively connected device for direct or indirect or non-continuous operation. immediately or indirectly heating the polymer materials, in particular in a washing device (20), a drying silo (21), optionally a pre-crystallization device, a storage device and / or in the reactor (1) itself. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the means and / or the sheaths are arranged in a suitable manner. devices for cooling the hot polymeric materials are connected downstream of the reactor (1) and that thereafter a separate, preferably evacuable cooling silo (10) is connected downstream of the reactor (1), which is connected in particular via a non-compressing discharge screw conveyor to the reactor (1). ). An arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the cooling silo (10) preferably has a cooling, slow-moving mixing and mixing device (4 '). 1 drawing